MELANOTIS. 29 
Hab. Muxico!, Mazatlan, Tepic (Grayson®*), Tres Marias Is. ( Grayson’), plains of 
Colima (Xantus’), Sierra Madre near Zapotitlan (Sumichrast*), Oaxaca (Fenochio), 
Talea, Juquila, Villa Alta, and Totontepec (Boucard*), Jalapa (Deppe4, de Oca), 
Temascaltepec (Deppe"), Cordova (Sallé2), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), 
Orizaba (le Strange), Mirador (Sartorius >). 
A specimen from Bullock’s Mexican collection, still extant in the Cambridge Museum, 
formed the basis of Swainson’s description of Orpheus cerulescens, published in 18271. 
The same species was afterwards described by Temminck as Turdus melanotis in 1830 © ; 
and in the same year Lichtenstein bestowed the title of Turdus erythrophthalmus upon 
specimens in the Berlin Museum obtained at Jalapa and Temascaltepec by Deppe!. 
The species has now been long known under Swainson’s name. 
Melanotis cerulescens is widely dispersed in Mexico, being found from Mazatlan to 
Tehuantepec. Except in the far north-western part of its range, it is usually an 
inhabitant of,the temperate region; but in the State of Vera Cruz, according to Prof. 
Sumichrast®, it passes beyond these limits into the hot region and into the alpine region 
as high as 4300 feet. Grayson, who found it at the sea-level in the Tres Marias Islands, 
gives the following account of its habits there :— 
“ One of the most abundant as well as interesting song-birds of the Marias. They are 
tame and confiding, allowing persons to approach very near them, often following me 
in the woods, evincing considerable curiosity, and uttering mimicking cries, and occa- 
sionally breaking out into the richest song, awaking the echoes of the silent woods. 
Like the true Mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottus), this bird is solitary in its habits, 
showing great aversion to the companionship of its own species; and combats between 
them are very frequent. The notes of this bird are full and melodious; at all seasons 
of the year the woods are enlivened by its mellow song ; and during the spring, or love- 
season, it is particularly so. They make excellent cage-birds, are easily kept, and soon 
become reconciled to their prison, even when taken at an adult age. 
“They inhabit the densest forests and thickets, spending much of their time upon the 
ground, turning up the leaves with their bills in search of insects.” 
2. Melanotis hypoleucus. 
Melanotis hypoleucus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 460; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 337°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 
1859, p. 7°, 1860, p. 29°; Ex. Orn. p. 85, t. 43°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 57°. 
Schistaceo-cerulescens, capitis lateribus nigris; subtus nisi crisso et hypochondriis albus ; rostro et pedibus 
nigris. Long. tota 10-5, alx 4-3, caude 5-0, rostri a rictu 1:35, tarsi 1:3. (Descr. exempl. ex San Geré- 
nimo, Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. plumis corporis subtus fusco-nigro et albo commixtis, rostri mandibula flava. (Deser. juv. ex Duefias, 
Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Guatemala’, Duefias®4*, Godines, San Gerdnimo, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.). 
